Ross Politician Johnson

Despite losing two seats to the Democrats, Assembly Republicans voted Thursday to retain as their leader Ross Johnson of La Habra, a fiery lawmaker who has weathered repeated challenges since he took over the post two years ago. In a closed-door meeting, the Republicans voted 23 to 9 for Johnson over Assemblyman Bill Jones, a Fresno rancher who had claimed the day before to have secured commitments from enough Republicans to oust Johnson.

Despite losing two seats to the Democrats, Assembly Republicans voted Thursday to retain as their leader Ross Johnson of La Habra, a fiery lawmaker who has weathered repeated challenges since he took over the post two years ago. In a closed-door meeting, the Republicans voted 23 to 9 for Johnson over Assemblyman Bill Jones, a Fresno rancher who had claimed the day before to have secured commitments from enough Republicans to oust Johnson.

Assembly Republican leader Ross Johnson criticized Democratic legislative leaders for spending almost $75,000 in taxpayers' money to attack Proposition 73, the voter-approved campaign financing reform initiative. "Powerful politicians have ignored the will of the people," charged Johnson (R-La Habra), one of the main sponsors of the initiative.

Under pressure from Assembly Republican Leader Ross Johnson (R-La Habra), Assemblyman Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks) has resigned from the GOP Caucus leadership. "It was apparent Tom was not comfortable with my leadership," Johnson said. "There are a lot of members who are enthusiastic about the job I am doing as leader and I want someone like that on my team." McClintock said he was not surprised by his ouster from the No. 4 spot in party leadership.

Assembly Republican leader Ross Johnson of La Habra called Tuesday for Atty. Gen. John K. Van de Kamp to investigate Democratic voter registration efforts in Orange County, alleging that Assembly Democrats may have used taxpayers' money for political purposes. Democrats immediately said that Johnson's accusation was based on an error in a brochure Orange County Democrats distributed last weekend at the state Democratic convention.

The wife of Assembly Republican leader Ross Johnson of La Habra was slightly injured when a bullet shattered the windows of her van while she was driving along Interstate 80 near the state Capitol, his office said Friday. Anne Richards, the assemblyman's press secretary, said doctors reported the "bullet grazed the chin" of Diane Johnson, 47, as she was driving to Davis from Sacramento early Thursday afternoon. "She had some stitches, but she's fine now and back at work today," Richards said.

Assembly Republican leader Ross Johnson of La Habra denied Monday that he had any role in approving a campaign hit piece that led to a forgery charge against a GOP lawmaker. "I want to state unequivocally I attended no meetings concerning the mailing or writing of any so-called 'White House letters,' " Johnson said in a statement. "I had no discussions about any such letters, and as far as my personal knowledge goes, no such meetings or discussions ever took place."

Under pressure from Assembly Republican Leader Ross Johnson (R-La Habra), Assemblyman Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks) has resigned from the GOP Caucus leadership. "It was apparent Tom was not comfortable with my leadership," Johnson said. "There are a lot of members who are enthusiastic about the job I am doing as leader and I want someone like that on my team." McClintock said he was not surprised by his ouster from the No. 4 spot in party leadership.

Top Assembly Republicans in 1986 sent out campaign letters bearing then-President Reagan's phony signature, even though they knew that the White House had rejected drafts of the mailers, according to grand jury testimony unsealed Friday. Then they concocted an "Alphonse-Gaston" story, each blaming the other to cover up his own role in the scheme, several GOP aides said in sworn statements.

The state Fair Political Practices Commission approved regulations Tuesday requiring candidates to name the office they are running for before they start raising campaign money. But the commission allowed candidates to announce for more than one office and then gave them unexpected freedom to decide how to use their campaign contributions.

Assemblyman Gil Ferguson charged Friday that some of his fellow Republican legislators conspired to eliminate him from the race for state Sen. William Campbell's seat so they could clear the field for his opponent, Assemblyman Frank Hill. Ferguson (R-Newport Beach) said he believes that Campbell resigned on Friday--a few weeks before he had originally scheduled his departure--because it could trigger election laws that prevent him from entering the race.

Several conservative Republican lawmakers have abandoned their party's nominee in a special election to fill a Southern California Assembly seat, choosing instead to remain neutral or support the write-in campaign of a Republican businessman who finished second in the primary. The rift has left the GOP nominee--Tricia Hunter of Bonita--with little backing so far from the 32 Republican lawmakers who might soon be her colleagues.

The wife of Assembly Republican leader Ross Johnson of La Habra was slightly injured when a bullet shattered the windows of her van while she was driving along Interstate 80 near the state Capitol, his office said Friday. Anne Richards, the assemblyman's press secretary, said doctors reported the "bullet grazed the chin" of Diane Johnson, 47, as she was driving to Davis from Sacramento early Thursday afternoon. "She had some stitches, but she's fine now and back at work today," Richards said.

Assembly Republican leader Ross Johnson of La Habra denied Monday that he had any role in approving a campaign hit piece that led to a forgery charge against a GOP lawmaker. "I want to state unequivocally I attended no meetings concerning the mailing or writing of any so-called 'White House letters,' " Johnson said in a statement. "I had no discussions about any such letters, and as far as my personal knowledge goes, no such meetings or discussions ever took place."

Top Assembly Republicans in 1986 sent out campaign letters bearing then-President Reagan's phony signature, even though they knew that the White House had rejected drafts of the mailers, according to grand jury testimony unsealed Friday. Then they concocted an "Alphonse-Gaston" story, each blaming the other to cover up his own role in the scheme, several GOP aides said in sworn statements.

Assembly Republican leader Ross Johnson criticized Democratic legislative leaders for spending almost $75,000 in taxpayers' money to attack Proposition 73, the voter-approved campaign financing reform initiative. "Powerful politicians have ignored the will of the people," charged Johnson (R-La Habra), one of the main sponsors of the initiative.

Several conservative Republican lawmakers have abandoned their party's nominee in a special election to fill a Southern California Assembly seat, choosing instead to remain neutral or support the write-in campaign of a Republican businessman who finished second in the primary. The rift has left the GOP nominee--Tricia Hunter of Bonita--with little backing so far from the 32 Republican lawmakers who might soon be her colleagues.

Assemblyman Gil Ferguson charged Friday that some of his fellow Republican legislators conspired to eliminate him from the race for state Sen. William Campbell's seat so they could clear the field for his opponent, Assemblyman Frank Hill. Ferguson (R-Newport Beach) said he believes that Campbell resigned on Friday--a few weeks before he had originally scheduled his departure--because it could trigger election laws that prevent him from entering the race.

Assembly Republican leader Ross Johnson of La Habra called Tuesday for Atty. Gen. John K. Van de Kamp to investigate Democratic voter registration efforts in Orange County, alleging that Assembly Democrats may have used taxpayers' money for political purposes. Democrats immediately said that Johnson's accusation was based on an error in a brochure Orange County Democrats distributed last weekend at the state Democratic convention.

The state Fair Political Practices Commission approved regulations Tuesday requiring candidates to name the office they are running for before they start raising campaign money. But the commission allowed candidates to announce for more than one office and then gave them unexpected freedom to decide how to use their campaign contributions.